And anon the lord of the castle, that was that time cleped Sir Brian de
les Isles, the which was a noble man and a great enemy unto King
Arthur, within a while he was armed and upon horseback. And then they
feutred their spears and hurled together so strongly that both their
horses rashed to the earth. And then they avoided their saddles, and
dressed their shields, and drew their swords, and flang together as
wood men, and there were many strokes given in a while. At the last Sir
Launcelot gave to Sir Brian such a buffet that he kneeled upon his
knees, and then Sir Launcelot rashed upon him, and with great force he
pulled off his helm; and when Sir Brian saw that he should be slain he
yielded him, and put him in his mercy and in his grace. Then Sir
Launcelot made him to deliver all his prisoners that he had within his
castle, and therein Sir Launcelot found of Arthur’s knights thirty, and
forty ladies, and so he delivered them; and then he rode his way. And
anon as La Cote Male Taile was delivered he gat his horse, and his
harness, and his damosel Maledisant.
The meanwhile Sir Nerovens, that Sir Launcelot had foughten withal
afore at the bridge, he sent a damosel after Sir Launcelot to wit how
he sped at the Castle of Pendragon. And then they within the castle
marvelled what knight he was, when Sir Brian and his knights delivered
all those prisoners. Have ye no marvel, said the damosel, for the best
knight in this world was here, and did this journey, and wit ye well,
she said, it was Sir Launcelot. Then was Sir Brian full glad, and so
was his lady, and all his knights, that such a man should win them. And
when the damosel and La Cote Male Taile understood that it was Sir
Launcelot du Lake that had ridden with them in fellowship, and that she
remembered her how she had rebuked him and called him coward, then was
she passing heavy.
CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,
and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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